Father of New Kensington cop killer pleads guilty to open lewdness charge

The father of the man on death row for the murder of New Kensington police officer Brian Shaw pleaded guilty Tuesday in connection to claims he propositioned two teenage girls in Latrobe.

Gregory Baucum Jr., 54, was sentenced to serve six to 12 months in jail but was immediately paroled after having spent the last year behind bars as he awaited trial on charges related to the June 5, 2023, incident. Two 16-year-old girls claimed he approached them at a fast-food restaurant, made lewd comments and sexual gestures and asked them to participate in a sex act.

Police said Baucum, who wore a Disney hat with Mickey Mouse ears when he approached the teens, also bought alcoholic drinks for the girls.

Baucum served as his own lawyer as he pleaded guilty to one lesser misdemeanor charge of open lewdness after prosecutors agreed to dismiss four felony offenses that included unlawful contact with a minor and interference with the custody of children.

Assistant District Attorney Jim Lazar said Baucum had served more than nine months in jail since his arrest.

Baucum’s accusers did not object to the plea deal, Lazar said.

“They were under the impression the case was already resolved because it has been so long,” Lazar said.

Baucum, formerly of Arnold, previously pleaded guilty in 2020 to witness intimidation and served about a year in prison for that offense.

Police said Baucum intimidated and threatened retaliation against a woman who came forward to police with information about Shaw’s murder his killer Rahmael Holt’s efforts to avoid capture after the fatal 2017 shooting.

Following a trial in in 2019, Holt was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection.